Top 20 Companies that busted in 2010

From Yahoo... interesting

A&P. This grocery chain, with about 400 East Coast outlets, struggled during the recession, and also took on lots of debt when it acquired competitor Pathmark in 2007. The financial strains became unbearable, forcing A&P to declare bankruptcy in December. The company plans to keep operating its stores, which include the Super Fresh, Waldbaum, and Food Emporium chains, while it restructures. It may also merge with another retailer, to broaden its scale and appeal.

Affiliated Media. Newspapers used to be nicely profitable--until the Internet became a ubiquitous source of free news, rupturing a decades-old business model. When this company, which publishes the San Jose Mercury News, Denver Post, and about 50 other newspapers, declared bankruptcy in January, it followed at least a dozen other newspaper publishers into Chapter 11. The good news is that Affiliated emerged from bankruptcy less than two months after filing, with a lot less debt, some new owners, and its papers intact.

Ambac. The main subsidiary of this bond insurer sold protection on mortgage-backed securities, which became the "toxic assets" that helped trigger the financial panic of 2008. Ambac has been trying to restructure its business since 2007, when the housing bust began to intensify, by expanding its more conservative municipal-bond business. But it finally succumbed to bankruptcy in November 2010--the biggest filing of the year, according to BankruptcyData.com. The firm is also dickering with the IRS over $700 million in tax refunds from prior years that it may not deserve.

American Media. Here's a tabloid shocker--dirt doesn't sell the way it used to. That's because the type of tawdry gossip peddled by Star and National Enquirer, this company's franchise publications, is available faster and cheaper on the Web, at sites like TMZ and Gawker. Other American Media titles, like Shape, Men's Fitness, and Natural Health, are also struggling to hold onto advertising revenue as publishing migrates to the Web. By November 2010, American Media had a debt load seven times the value of the company, which drove it into bankruptcy. It hopes to emerge soon, with less debt and most of its businesses intact.

Blockbuster. This movie-rental chain failed to notice the future happening all around it. While Blockbuster was doubling down on retail stores and dunning its customers with loathsome late fees, Netflix wooed millions of movie fans by mailing them DVDs and offering streaming video over the Web, and Redbox set up convenient kiosks offering overnight movies for a buck. No wonder Blockbuster declared bankruptcy in September. It hopes to emerge from bankruptcy and fight back, but the company is now way behind.

Hummer. Its audacious off-roaders captured the fin de siecle, faux-rugged ethos of the early 2000s. But Hummer sales tanked during the 2008 oil-price spike, and Hummers ended up on the wrong side of the "new frugality" that followed the Great Recession. The end came after parent firm General Motors declared bankruptcy in 2009, and thinned its divisions from eight to four as part of its restructuring. For a while it looked as if a Chinese company would buy Hummer from GM, but when that deal fell through, Hummer was put out to pasture.

Innkeepers USA. This commercial-property company--which owns about 70 hotels that operate under brands like Residence Inn, Hampton Inn, Summerfield Suites, Hilton, and Hyatt--followed a familiar path toward bankruptcy. A private-equity firm bought the company in 2007, near the peak of the real-estate bubble, taking on a lot of debt to finance the purchase. As property values fell and business dried up during the recession, the company came up short on the cash flow needed to pay down its loans. It's now working its way through a "prepackaged" bankruptcy that has left most of its properties operating normally.

Jennifer Convertibles. Furniture sales sank during the recession, and this sofabed seller closed about 50 stores to stanch the red ink. But that wasn't enough to prevent a bankruptcy filing in July. The company has been able to keep more than 300 stores open while it restructures, half of them under its Ashley Furniture brand. A Chinese firm that's one of Jennifer's biggest suppliers will end up owning a big chunk of the company.

[See 4 reasons jobs remain so scarce.]

Loehmann's. Retail sales began a tepid recovery in 2010, but it was too late for this chain that sells discount designer clothing. The November bankruptcy filing was the second for Loehmann's, which also declared Chapter 11 in 1999 and emerged a year later. A Dubai-based investing firm bought Loehmann's in 2006, taking on more debt than it could manage as sales tumbled during the recession. Loehmann's hopes to write off debt and be solvent once again in 2011, with most of its 46 stores operating as normal.

Mesa Air. Airline bankruptcies have become so routine that few fliers noticed when this small carrier--which operates regional "express" flights for United, US Airways, and Delta--filed Chapter 11 last January. Mesa described the filing as a "voluntary" action that would allow it to rapidly streamline while continuing normal operations, and so far the airline has slashed its fleet from about 180 aircraft to fewer than 80, while still serving 130 cities. US Airways could emerge as a part owner of the company.

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. This studio's archives include classics like The Wizard of Oz, Dr. Zhivago, andRocky, but a dearth of recent hits--plus debt piled on when a group of private investors bought the studio in 2005--led to a much-anticipated bankruptcy filing in November. MGM should be back on its feet by early 2011, with a much lower debt load and new owners eager to move forward on big projects like two new Hobbit films and the 23rd James Bond flick.

Mercury. Parent company Ford Motor has turned itself around and become nicely profitable, but it's not bringing the middling Mercury brand along with it. The aging Mercury got sandwiched between the mainstream Ford lineup and the Lincoln luxury division, with Ford deciding two nameplates was enough. Since most Mercury models were glorified Fords anyway, few car buffs will miss it.

[See 15 cars fueling Detroit's revival.]

Movie Gallery. Haven't we seen this movie before? Movie Gallery, which ran Hollywood Video and was once the second-largest video-rental chain in America, first filed for Chapter 11 protection in 2008, then filed again in February 2010 when its restructuring plan failed to gain traction. The firm tried to keep some stores open, but eventually went to black and closed all of its 2,400 U.S. outlets, cashiering 19,000 workers.

Newsweek. The Washington Post, which had long owned Newsweek--and lost millions on it in recent years--sold the venerable title for one dollar to 91-year-old billionaire Sidney Harman in August. Since the magazine had millions in debt, the deal seemed like a sympathy purchase that would merely delay Newsweek's demise. Then Newsweek merged with The Daily Beast, the website run by publishing titan Tina Brown, creating a strange amalgam of two money-losing properties that might, um, lose less money together. Critics will spend 2011 either snickering over synergy that's never going to happen, or eating their words.

Oriental Trading Company. A little bankruptcy. No big deal. That's the message this crafts, novelties, and party-supply retailer conveyed after declaring bankruptcy in August, saying on its website that it plans to continue with "business as usual" and that writing off more than $400 million in debt "will enable us to pursue our growth strategy more effectively." The company, owned by private-equity firms, is shifting more of its business from catalogs to its website as it tries to shed costs and reach more consumers.

[See why "recession-proof" jobs are a myth.]

Penton Media. Trade publications like Air Transport World, Nation's Restaurant News, and Farm Press face the same challenge as consumer periodicals: staying profitable while ad revenue migrates from traditional media to the digital world. With a stable of such titles, business publisher Penton battled a steep decline in sales that led to bankruptcy in early 2010. But Penton emerged in less than a month, and is now revamping its websites and focusing on mobile apps and other digital initiatives.

Pontiac. It was once one of GM's marquis divisions, with must-have muscle cars like the GTO and the Trans Am. But GM could never revive Pontiac's faded glory, and when the automaker was forced to shrink following its 2009 bankruptcy, Pontiac got the boot. The last dealerships closed in October. Saturn, a newer GM division, closed as well.

Swoozie's. This Georgia-based gift and stationery chain expanded into the Northeast just as the recession was gathering steam, and never reached sales levels that would have made it profitable. The company declared bankruptcy in March. A private firm bought it out of bankruptcy and downsized its footprint. The company now runs seven stores, down from a peak of 43.

Uno Restaurant Holdings. The debt was deeper than the pizza, and when the recession cut into cash flow, the parent firm of Pizzeria Uno had no choice but to file bankruptcy. It emerged in July, after shedding debt and closing about 25 stores. The company still operates 160 restaurants in 24 states, plus a few overseas locations.

Urban Brands. The parent firm of the Ashley Stewart brand, which caters to young and middle-aged plus-size women, began to struggle in 2007, and finally declared bankruptcy in September 2010. Shoppers may barely notice, however, since its 210 stores are operating normally while the company fixes its finances.

10 College jobs that look good on a resume...

From yahoo, it's a good read!...


"It may be hard to find a job, but that won't be a good excuse for a slim resume when you're sitting across from a recruiter next year. Like it or not, college students are expected to pull good grades in tough classes while gaining professional experience on the side. And for students who depend on their own paycheck, steady work also brings in much-needed cash.

Your best bet is to look for a job that's related to the career you're hoping to pursue, so you can gain relevant skills, contacts, and experience. If you don't know yet which career is right for you, use your college job to help you figure that out, says Lindsey Pollak, author of Getting from College to Career: 90 Things to Do Before You Join the Real World. If you don't end up enjoying the job you choose, you can cross it off your list of potential careers.

These 10 jobs are great choices for students because they look good on a resume, work around class schedules, and offer decent pay. Keep in mind that if you work on campus, your boss may be more sympathetic when you need time off to study for a sociology exam or finish that chemistry lab.

[See accompanying slide show: 10 College Jobs to Boost Your resume.]

1. On-campus tour guide: By showing prospective students, their families, and alumni around university grounds, you'll no doubt improve your speaking and presentation skills. It can also be an opportunity to learn more about your school. "You also demonstrate that you have maturity," says Dan Klamm, outreach and marketing coordinator at Syracuse University's Career Services office. "The school typically would only put someone in that role if they entrust the student to represent them in a positive and mature way."

2. Brand ambassador: Whether you're working for Pepsi, JetBlue, or Neutrogena, marketing a product to your peers can be a great way to make a buck--or at least bring home a few free samples. Many medium and large companies want a presence on college campuses, and those free samples are likely to make you a hot commodity among your peers. "That type of position has the backing of the national company," says Klamm. "You put down on your resume that you worked for Starbucks in a marketing role, [and] that looks really impressive... In most cases, [students] are setting up events, they're generating word-of-mouth interest, they're speaking at student organization meetings. So it's a lot of the communication skills [and] organizational skills that a professional employer would be looking for." If you're interested in becoming a brand ambassador,RepNation, which connects students and companies, is a good place to start.

3. On-campus IT support: Because you'll gain real-world experience without leaving campus, this is one of the best work-study jobs for students working on a degree in a relevant area. Sue Dahlin, assistant director for career advising at University of Puget Sound, says technology-services work usually involves diagnosing and solving technical problems for other students and teachers, as well as installing and setting up computer systems on campus. Since that includes providing customer service, it can help you sharpen your "people skills," she says.

[Use social media to network for your tuition]

4. Social media consultant: As online brand building becomes more important, small businesses are turning to part-time or contract employees to help run marketing campaigns on Facebook or Twitter. Though some companies may be wary of having a student serve as the face and communicator for their brand, they may still hire 20-somethings for help with the technical side of social media. For students, that means a chance to use and improve both IT and marketing skills. Other so-called "virtual jobs," like programming or designing websites, can also be a good way to earn a buck, says Pollak, the author who specializes in careers for Generation Y. "A lot of small business owners are hiring people virtually to do their social media, to design websites, to do work that a lot of young people are really good at--and you never have to leave your dorm room."

5. Waiter or waitress: Some students make the mistake of thinking this doesn't look good on a resume, but it's all about how you spin your experience. "[Don't] say, 'I served burgers and fries,' " says Syracuse University's Klamm. "It's all in thinking about the skills you learned in the position as opposed to the day-to-day actions that you took." Look for opportunities to show how you developed customer-service or team-building skills, he says. Restaurant jobs offer a decent paycheck, and many employers will work around your school schedule. Even better, you can often return to a restaurant after taking time off, and consistency looks good to a hiring manager. Admittedly, other jobs may offer experience that's more relevant to your future career, so don't dive into a server position just because the burger joint is where everyone else is working--but don't write it off, either.

[See The 50 Best Careers of 2011.]

6. Writer: If you're headed for a career that involves communications--and most do--you may gain advantages by working as a writer. Look for work with the school paper or other campus publications or with an off-campus marketing agency. Many marketing firms and local or online publications can't afford to hire full-time writers, so they depend on freelancers to fill the gaps, says Emily Bennington, who helps college graduates transition into careers through her company, Professional Studio 365. Rather than wait for a job posting, you're better off contacting the firm or publication you want to write for and asking whether they hire freelancers, she says.

7. On-campus career services: It isn't easy for college students to learn the ins and outs of the professional world while keeping up their grades. Working in career services can help you become familiar with the job-hunting process and comfortable talking with employers and recruiters. At some schools, student employees may also hear about internship opportunities and networking events they may have otherwise overlooked.

8. Bank teller: About 1 in 4 tellers work part time, so college students might find flexibility in a bank job. This position will help you gain experience with customer service, and if you're moving toward a career in finance, it may be a good way to get your feet wet. But don't limit yourself to being a teller--even if that's what you're paid for, says Tom Fitch, assistant dean for commerce career services at the University of Virginia's McIntire School of Commerce. Instead, look to gain experience offering loans or opening accounts so you leave the job with more transferable skills.

[Learn more about student loans and saving for college.]

9. Working for yourself: Regardless of the product or service you're selling, starting a business may appeal to entrepreneurial-minded students. If you can pull this off, you'll be able to set your own schedule, choose your clients, and possibly make contacts in an industry that interests you. Kevin Nall, associate director of Baylor University Career Services, says he's seen students start businesses, from laundry services that deliver clean, folded clothes to your dorm room to a system that allows students and faculty to easily pay all of their bills online. "They are obviously learning things by doing that and working out the kinks in a relatively low-risk environment," Nall says. And that entrepreneurial spirit is sure to help you down the line. "Any business, [whether] it's your own start-up company or an existing business, [is] looking for people who are considered innovative."

10. On-campus alumni affairs: Whether you're fundraising, following up on mailings, or working alumni events, this job is full of networking potential. Be professional yet personable when you call or interact with alumni, and you may score contacts that will help you land a summer internship or post-graduation job. And don't pass up the opportunity to work the registration table at alumni events. "Alums love to talk to current students," Pollak says--and that can work to your advantage."

Kid CuDi

I've been listening to a ton of CuDi lately, this has to be one of my favorites... Hope you enjoy.

Jobs that pay 100$ an hour.

Got this read off yahoo... I'd probably pick the tattoo artist.


""Being able to get $100 an hour is rare," said Al Lee, the director of quantitative analysis at PayScale.com . The median hourly wage in the U.S. is $16 an hour, he points out, so earning $100 an hour would be more than six times what the average worker makes.

Lee says the three easiest ways to get a $100 an hour job are: 1) Become a doctor, 2) Become a CEO of a large company (500 employees or more) or 3) Manage other people's money (stock broker, portfolio manager, etc.).

[See the Fastest Growing Jobs in America]

So, most of the time, you're going to need higher education like a medical degree, law degree or at least an MBA. Though, as you'll see, there are a few exceptions on the list for those with special talents in the arts. It's also important to note with most of the jobs, you're not going to earn $100 an hour out of the gate — you'll need to stay in the business for a few years.

Underwater Welder

United States Navy

Actually the technical name is "saturation diver," which means you do deep-water construction like pipe replacement and pipe repair, usually for oil and gas companies.

You can make $900 to $1200 a day, according to the Commercial Diving Academy, working extreme hours (30 days at sea with 12-hour shifts) in extreme conditions — the "saturation" part refers to maxing out your body's capability to handle the pressure of being at depths of 700 feet or more for extended periods of time. Divers are actually brought down to the site in a hyperbolic chamber, explained Dusty Harrison, the placement director at the academy, and live in a pressurized habitat while they're on the dive.

Anesthesiologist

Andrew Olney | Digital Vision | Getty Images

It's not uncommon for doctors to earn $100 an hour or more but one category you might not expect is anesthesiologist. These are the doctors — yes, they are MDs -- who administer anesthetics, the drugs that knock a patient out, during surgery or other medical procedure.

The mean hourly wage is $101.80, according to the Labor Department. The pay is so high because the patient's very life is in their hands: They not only determine how much of anesthetic to administer but also record and monitor the patient's vital signs throughout the surgery.

Those working in doctors' offices typically earn the most, compared to those who work in hospitals, out-patient clinics or universities. The states with the best chances of earning over $100 an hour are Arizona and Tennessee. The outlook for this profession is good, due to a growing population and growing health-care needs.

Commercial Pilot

Getty Images

The top 10 percent of commercial pilots earn an average of $120 an hour, according to PayScale.com. However, this is one of those cases where most pilots don't have high annual salary because that's the rate for flight hours and they're not in the air 40 hours a week. FAA regulations limit flying time to a max of 100 hours a month or 1,000 hours a year.

A lot of pilots learn to fly in the military but an increasing number have college degrees and training from an FAA-certified flight school, according to the Labor Department. The best opportunities are with commercial airlines but many require 4,000 flight hours before they'll hire you.

Getting to travel is a perk but it can be grueling: Pilots spend, on average, 360 hours a month away from their home base, according to the Airline Pilots Association . Plus, the work can be dangerous — not just the risk of a crash but risk of hearing loss.

Tattoo Artist

Glowimages | Getty Images

The top 10 percent of tattoo artists earn on average $130 an hour but, like pilots, they're not working 40 hours a week at that rate. They usually negotiate a price per tattoo with the client.

There are some tattoo schools but in general, there are no education requirements, rather most tattoo artists learn via an apprenticeship with an experienced tattoo artist, which may be paid or unpaid. Working for a shop is a good way to get experience and build clients but the top earners tend to be self-employed. Most shops also offer piercing and some sell clothing as way to supplement income.

Arbitrator

Frances Twitty | Istock Exclusive | Getty Images

Arbitrators are legal professionals who help settle disputes outside of court, a quicker and cheaper resolution, though make no mistake — arbitrators still make a good buck. PayScale estimates that the top 10 percent earn $130 on average.

Arbitrators tend to be attorneys or business professionals with special expertise, though they are a neutral party in the dispute.

There is no standard requirement for being an arbitrator — this varies by state. Most arbitrators go to law school or have a masters' degree in public policy, law or other field. Many also go through a special mediation-training program which is 40 to 60 hours. Currently, only five states — Florida, New Hampshire, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia — have certification programs. The Navy also certifies mediators.

The job outlook for arbitrators is expected to be above average in the next decade as individuals and corporations increasingly try to stay out of court.

Orthodontist

Braces! Tons of kids need them and orthodontists make top dollar straightening out those teeth. The mean hourly wage is $99.13 an hour, according to the Labor Department, which means probably half of the profession earns $100 or more an hour. The highest-paying states for orthodontists are Alabama, Oregon and Oklahoma, the department reports.

Becoming an orthodontist requires 2-3 years of specialized education beyond dental school, according to the American Association of Orthodontists.

Freelance Photographer

David Malan | Photographer's Choice | Getty Images

Most freelance photographers earn $13 to $50 an hour but the top 10 percent, on average, earn $100 an hour, according to PayScale.

Commercial photographers and those who specialize in graphic art and design tend to be among the highest paid. Geographically, the highest rates are in New York and Boston. And most don't get close to that $100 mark until they've had 5 to 10 years experience. Most, of course, don't get health or retirement benefits which can eat into that $100 an hour paycheck.

Interior Designer

Getty Images

The top 10 percent of interior designers earn, on average, $100 an hour, according to PayScale. Those who can provide architectural, engineering and other specialized services in addition to design tend to earn top dollar.

Most firms require a bachelor's degree and some states license interior designers, though there are many interior designers who don't have a degree. The key is to have a good eye for design — and be able give clients a space they like and that meets their needs.

Demand is expected to be strong over the next decade as more people discover the benefits of hiring a designer for remodeling projects but competition for the jobs is expected to be tough, according to the Labor Department. The highest salaries are in Las Vegas, San Francisco, Arlington, Va., San Jose, Calif., Los Angeles and New York, according to Simply Hired.

Hand Model

Andrew Unangst | Photographer's Choice | Getty Images

"Parts" models as they're called in the biz, may be selected for their extraordinary hands, feet, torso or other body parts to model "everything from diapers to diamonds" as one hand model told Katie Couric. They tend to earn about $100 an hour, according to Job Monkey.

One of the downsides is that parts models have to take extra good care of the part that brings home the bacon. One hand model said she moisturizes 25 to 30 times a day and wears gloves every day. Of course, you can't wash dishes, clean, garden or do other tasks that jeopardize your part with something like — gasp! — a paper cut. And then, there comes a time when you need to think about insuring your part. Remember that time we learned that Heidi Klum's legs are insured for more than $2 million? Internet has it that one is worth less than the other because of imperfections!

Life Coach

David Buffington | Digital Vision | Getty Images

Being a "life coach" is a relatively new profession. It's part therapist, part career coach and designed to help people "bridge the gap between where they are and where they want to be in their profession and their personal life," according to the Institute for Life Coach Training, which likens it to how a coach trains an athlete to "win the gold medal not just be in the race."

Life coaches on average earn $100 to $150 an hour, according to the International Coaching Federation. Executive and corporate coaches tend to earn the most.

Life coaches are often certified therapists (master's degree or doctorate plus certification) and then take special life-coach training like the ILCT's 40-hour training program. Most — particularly the top earners — are self-employed.

Massage Therapist

FEV Create Inc. | Photodisc | Getty Images

Massage therapists can make $100 an hour or more, according to the American Massage Therapy Association , though you probably won't make that in a spa — the highest earners are in private practice. The average is $45 an hour. Geographically, the potential for earning that $100+ an hour is highest in big cities like New York, Los Angeles and Chicago.

Massage therapists have to graduate from a 500-hour training program through a massage school in order to be certified, according to the American Massage Therapy Association.

The job outlook is strong with a lot of growth potential as more people are starting to realize the health benefits of massage — not just the relaxation benefits. Hospitals are increasingly using massage therapy for pain management, cancer-related fatigue, pregnancy and physical therapy as well as for preventative measures like boosting the immune system and lowering blood pressure, according to the AMTA.

Political Speechwriter

The informal consensus is that political speechwriters earn $100 an hour, according to "Career Opportunities in Writing," a book by Allan Taylor, James Robert Parish and Brad Schreiber.

Of course, you won't earn that right away — you probably have to log several years in a congressman's office or other political office. And, most speechwriters charge by the speech, assuming it will take about 30 hours at $100 an hour. An undergraduate degree in communications, English, journalism or liberal arts is usually standard.

Demand for speechwriters is expected to be strong and with elections held every two to four years — steady."

Stare at the lobster's eyes long enough, and the dish will seem to repair itself.

Jessica Simpson Inc. To Break the 1 Billion Mark

It's funny to think this dumb blonde is worth this much regarding how much her last film grossed. I gotta hand it to her, she's making it work, I'm not going to hate.

"You heard that: $100 MILLION. Not bad for the recipient of John Mayer's most infamous diss. It's almost like her ho-hum singing and acting careers are go-nowhere, just-for-fun side projects; her new holiday album "Happy Christmas" is a dismal No. 123 on the Billboard 200 chart. And her last film that had a theatrical release, "Blonde Ambition," grossed just $6,422."


"Crazy, right? From shoes to bags to jeans to perfume, Simpson-branded products are a massive commercial success. And the star herself is said to be worth $100 million, according toWWD.com.

"

According to Omg.Yahoo.com

Natalie Time Lapse: Birth to 10 years old in 1 minute 25 sec

Just shows how much time is of the essence... Funny how her personality progresses throughout the video also!